Everybody's favorite international star-to-MLS rumor re-appeared over the weekend, and while nothing has really changed with regard to the long-discussed potential THierry Henry to New York Red Bull rumor, it still managed to resurface and create a little more buzz.
This time around it was the Daily Mail with a story on how Henry is set to pass on a move to Manchester City in order to join the Red Bulls after the 2010 World Cup. It is a fascinating idea and promising story, except for the fact that the story itself offers little to support the rumor.
This is the 'meat' in the story:
"Henry fancies a new challenge to end his illustrious career and MLS side New York Red Bulls are strongly tipped to be his destination, with the 32-year-old Barcelona star excited at the prospect of living in another of the world's great cities."
For those wondering, ""strongly tipped" is English tabloid code for "rumored" which means that, yes, this story is nothing more than a rehash of what we have heard for a long time, that Henry wants to play in New York. Fortunately for American fans, all it takes is one flimsy UK report to turn into "reports out of Europe", which then becomes "Henry heading to New York".
In short, the story is a weak one, and while the author is actually one of the Mail's main soccer writers, he is also someone who doesn't exactly specialize in transfer speculation.
Joe Bernstein's four biggest transfer-related stories (make that his only transfer-related stories) from the summer to now were the following: Rafael van Der Vaart to Arsenal, Sergio Aguero to Manchester United, Ashley Young to Tottenham and Peter Crouch to Sunderland OR Fulham. No, that's not exactly a good success percentage. That's not to mention his story on how Tottenham was set to beat out Liverpool for Glen Johnson, or the one about Gareth Barry joining Liverpool if Rafa Benitez could sell Xabi Alonso.
So yes, Henry very well could be the marquee player Red Bull lands to help fill Red Bull Arena this summer, a move we have called for more than a year now, but the story that surfaced from the weekend wasn't evidence that a move is in the works as much as it is a sign that the popular rumor is still reaching people who hadn't heard it yet.
What do you think of Henry joining the Red Bulls? Hoping he arrives in MLS in the summer of 2010, or do you think it is unlikely that FC Barcelona lets him leave?
Share your thoughts below.
